State security will no longer protect ministers

The security service in charge of protecting ministers and heads of state against potential attacks is to be scrapped, De Morgen and Het Laatste Nieuws report. The 60 security agents who were assigned to this function will now incorporate a special unit of 120 police officers charged with ensuring the safety of public figures. "The reattachment of security agents to a police unit is part of the reform aimed at optimising police forces," said Ingrid Van Daele, spokeswoman for the interior minister, Joëlle Milquet."Close protection is not an essential function of State security," she added. The proposed date for the reassignment of security agents is April 1, 2014. "At the moment, we are looking into the technicalities of the transfers in terms of status, functions and organisation," said the spokeswoman.